Television and radio presenter Sian Welby has candidly opened up about the realities of juggling new motherhood with a high-profile career, admitting that her relationship with fiancé Jake Beckett has been 'put on the back-burner' and she lacks the 'capacity' to plan their wedding.
The Struggle to Balance Baby, Work, and Romance
Sian, 39, and her producer partner Jake are parents to 17-month-old daughter Ruby, whom they 'tag team' care for between their busy work schedules. The couple, who got engaged during a romantic getaway in 2023, now find that date nights are virtually nonexistent as they focus their energy on their child and careers.
'The fiancé takes the back burner bless him, because both of you as a couple are trying to find time for the baby,' Sian explained to the Daily Mail. 'And then you realise when are we gonna do a date night and bless us we have tried. We hit 8pm and we're closed out, we're like falling asleep on the Tube home and you realise how hard it is.'
She described the first two years of parenthood as being 'in the trenches,' a period of constant adjustment where sleep is scarce and new challenges arise continuously. To navigate this, she and Jake have to 'keep checking in with each other' and 'take it in turns to apologise.'
Wedding Plans Postponed Indefinitely
When it comes to their wedding, Sian has been forced to postpone any serious planning. She gave birth to Ruby in June 2024, just months after ITV bosses entrusted her to co-host This Morning, a significant step up from her previous roles presenting competitions on the show.
'My brain hasn't got the capacity for it,' she admitted. 'I want to enjoy it [wedding planning]. The last thing I want is a wedding to be another job or feel like a chore or stress. I think when I'm in the right headspace, maybe if, I don't know I find time for it and slow down.'
Sian confessed she 'never wanted to be engaged for years and years,' but acknowledges that with her current workload and parental duties, the wedding is 'getting pushed back and back.' When the day does eventually come, she envisions a large ceremony, ideally in 'a big like a barn or, you know, a sort of big event where everyone could just have a laugh and free bar.'
The Pressure to Return to Work as the 'Breadwinner'
The pressure to maintain her career momentum played a significant role in Sian's decision to return to work just three months after giving birth. As the main earner for her family, she felt a tangible fear that the roles she had 'worked 15 years for' might disappear.
'I'm very realistic that I can't be sure what would happen if I took a full year off,' she stated. 'I don't know many people in this industry that would take that much time out. You have to be very secure within your job and your role. I have bills to pay. I have to provide for my family.'
Her career breakthrough came after being spotted in an advert for New! Magazine while she was still working part-time at New Look. This led to her being unveiled as the new face of Channel 5 News in 2010, followed by a six-year stint as the broadcaster's lead weather presenter. She met Jake whilst they were both working at Global, the parent company of Capital radio, where she now hosts the breakfast show alongside Jordan North and Chris Stark.
Despite her professional success, Sian admits she struggles to prioritise herself. 'I would love to for once just have time to just focus on something for me. Well, for me and my other half, but I don't really put myself first,' she said, adding that she can't recall the last time she organised her own birthday or a outing with friends.
For now, the focus remains on her daughter and her work, with the dream of a barn wedding and free bar for all having to wait for a less hectic chapter in their lives.
